Production uncertainty drives feed grain markets

Production uncertainty drives feed grain markets

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Barley and corn prices have been extremely volatile over the past month. Large regions of Western Canada are experiencing drought-like conditions. At the same time, crop ratings for the U.S. corn crop reflect yield uncertainty in the Midwest. I’ve received many inquiries from feedlot operators and cow-calf producers regarding the price outlook for corn and […] Read more

CME October 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs near one-month high on export outlook

CME cattle futures close lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures neared a one-month high on Tuesday on expectations for increased U.S. pork exports and tightening supplies. Demand for U.S. pork is benefiting as high pig prices in Europe cause global importers to shift some business to the United States, where pig prices have been weak, […] Read more


Talking to a seller about disease history in their herd and asking about herd records is a good idea, says the research chair at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

Comment: Beware Trojan cows

You’ve probably read the story of the Siege of Troy, or at least watched the movie with Brad Pitt. If not, here is a summary: Queen Helen of Sparta absconded with or was abducted by Paris. They sailed back to his hometown of Troy. Her husband, King Menelaus, was displeased and roped his friends Odysseus […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market shrugs off lower barley production

Barley exports, domestic demand expected to be reduced

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3/cwt on either side of unchanged. Prices for calves were also unchanged from average values seven days earlier. Calf markets are becoming more defined as volumes increase. There also appeared to be larger volume of high-quality yearlings available, which was a surprise. The drought hasn’t significantly […] Read more


CME October 2023 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease on softer cash markets

Trade watching for increased demand for hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Friday, ending the week slightly lower as cash trade eased, though the cattle market continues to trade mostly sideways, analysts said. “The market’s basically saying — we’ve got stable trade right now for a couple months,” said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale […] Read more

Albert Rimke presents the Bob Gordon Memorial Over- all Grand Aggregate award to Heidi McFadden.

Canadian Hereford Association honours members

Purely Purebred, news from the September 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Congratulations to Frank and Andree McNeely, Stephanie and Rae Kopeechuk and Allan Marshall for being added to the Canadian Hereford Association Honour Roll.  Frank and Andree McNeely started a purebred Hereford herd under Ottawa Valley Hereford Farms in 1974 near Navan, Ont. Alongside daughters Kerry and Jill, they showed cattle at numerous shows across Canada, […] Read more


CME October 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up ahead of long weekend

Lean hogs follow cash hog index lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ticked upward Thursday, while packers backed off of buying ahead of the Labour Day holiday week that will limit slaughter, analysts said. “There was some light trade today, slightly lower than last week,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. “I don’t know […] Read more

CME October 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb as traders eye seasonal supply shifts

Cattle futures down ahead of long weekend

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed on Wednesday, finding support as traders gauged pork demand and watched for signs of a seasonal influx of market-ready hogs. “We still have an index that’s higher than the October. It usually doesn’t close the gap until we get into September a week or […] Read more


calf and cow

Fed cattle prices strong, parched pastures accelerates yearling run

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the September 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Feedlot margins are positive while packer margins have started to struggle. As packers push back, carcass weights have grown, supplies have increased slightly and beef demand dipped lower during the extreme summer heat. All this has contributed to a seasonal reduction in fed cattle prices.. From the June price high of $247.84/cwt, prices […] Read more

CME October 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle dip as traders weigh cash, consumer demand

Hog futures down on supply expectations

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Tuesday after four days of gains, as traders look for direction from consumer demand amid tight cattle supplies, analysts said. “I think we’ve been sideways for cattle now for over a month and, I guess until we see a change on the product […] Read more